ASSASSIN'S CREED

"John Banks is one of the UK's most prolific audiobook narrators, working for the likes of Big Finish, Audible, Random House and Games Workshop.

He is a true multi-voice, creating everything from monsters to marauding aliens.

He is also an accomplished stage and TV actor."

audible.co.uk 2018

Coming throughout December...

Coming in January 2019...

Coming in January 2019...

Hello...

...I'm John Banks - welcome to my website. The majority of my working life has been spent in the theatre with companies including York Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman, Sheffield Crucible, Bristol Old Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange and the National Theatre in London.

Television work includes Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and 'Allo, Allo!'. I have also worked on a number of radio drama and comedy productions with the BBC.Since March 2009, I have enjoyed playing a huge variety of characters in more than 250* audio-drama stories for Big Finish Productions and The Black Library/Games Workshop, details of which can be found in the postings below.

There are also details listed here of the 150* audio books I've recorded since March 2013, including the unabridged New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, for companies including audible.co.uk, Hachette, RNIB, W.F. Howes, Little Brown Group, Penguin Random House, Games Workshop, Orion, Fantom Films & Ladbroke Audio.

(*figures at October 2018)

I hope you find something of interest here and come back soon for further updates.

For all posts, reviews and audio samples, please scroll down...

Available now:

5 CD Box Set

Flight. Redefined.

Games Workshop

Media Content

This Windows 10 Googleblog is designed and best viewed on Firefox; unfortunately, some media content may not function properly with other browsers or operating systems.

Search This Blog

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Dr Who: Moonflesh

"...whenever April showers come along."

Another month, another April and another brief update on recent events. Way back in November 2012 - yes, 2012 - a few of us gathered expectantly at Moat Studios to record Dr Who: Moonflesh and sometime very soon, it will become available for all to hear.

Now I know I almost always say how much I'm looking forward to listening to a particular release and often give the reason, especially if there's a specific memory or event associated with recording etc etc. Moonflesh was recorded so long ago, that I can't remember very much about the story at all, so there's one reason to look forward to catching up with it.

In the meantime, here is some fab cover art by Damien May and a synopsis from Big Finish:

One wouldn't normally expect to find elephants, gorillas and
rhinoceroses roaming free in Suffolk in the year 1911. One wouldn't
normally expect to find an extra-dimensional police box at the same
time/space location either. Two aliens, named the Doctor and Nyssa, exit
said box, only to find themselves pursued by a hungry lioness – for
they've landed in the private hunting grounds of the famous explorer
Nathaniel Whitlock, who's brought together a motley group of friends and
acquaintances for a weekend's shooting.But one of Whitlock's guests isn't all they seem. One of them wants the
secrets of the Moonflesh, the mystic mineral looked after by Whitlock's
retainer, a Native American known as Silver Crow. Because the Moonflesh
is reputed to have the power to call down spirits from another realm…

…and soon, the hunters will become the hunted.

Written by Mark Morris

Directed by Ken Bentley

Hugh, me, Francesca, Tim, Rosanna, GeoffreyPeter & Sarah

* * * * *

It's a funny old world. A couple of weeks ago and completely out of the blue, I was offered some voice-over work by Focalpoint Television, a production company I had applied to several years previously without success.

The work involved recording the narrative to an inter-active corporate training film for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The script was a tangle of jargon and extraordinarily tongue-twisty terminology with some multi-syllabic drug names thrown in for good measure; but in it's own strange way, was good fun and very satisfying to record. I'd love to say more, but given the commercial sensitivity of the content, I had to sign a 'Non Disclosure Agreement' and must remain silent on the subject. (!)

Don't worry, you haven't missed much and as an alternative, listening to Moonflesh should be much more entertaining - at least, I hope it is!

No comments:

Fabius Bile

Reviews & comments:

The Malazan Empire

Over the course of this 8 book series, the amazing John Banks has had to create and voice 648 distinct characters!

Neil Gardner - producer

The Door In The Wall & War of The Worlds

Not often I buy another version of an audiobook I own, but after hearing John Banks' narration of The Door in the Wall by Ladbroke Audio, I had to buy their version of The War of the Worlds. Banks has a great reading voice.

Andy Frankham-Allen - writer

The Books of Babel: Senlin Ascends, Arm of The Sphinx & The Hod King

Mr. Banks does superb work, and I recommend the audiobooks wholeheartedly!

Josiah Bancroft - writer

Mervyn Stone: The Axeman Cometh

John Banks is a voice genius...

Nev Fountain - writer

Mervyn Stone... played by the note-perfect John Banks.

Matt Hills - Reviews in Time and Space

Dr. Who: The Sleeping City

I also must draw attention to John Banks who is an exceptional voice artist and in this one story performs more characters that I can count. ... it is listening to episodes like this one that really do let his talents shine through.

Tony Jones - Red Rocket Rising

Highlander:

...playing several parts, was the brilliant Big Finish regular John Banks - it was as if there were about 40 different actors in the other booth.

James Moran - writer

I went for the best of the best and brought in voice artiste extraordinaire John Banks.

Paul Spragg - producerVienna:

...also features the mind - bogglingly versatile and reliable John Banks

Jonathan Morris - writer

Dead Funny:

The acting is first rate… wonderfully played by John Banks as Richard – his impersonation of Eric Morecambe is worth the admission money alone.

Beverly Greenberg: Bolton Evening NewsMr. Happiness:

This early and unfamiliar play by David Mamet is a character study of a 1930s radio counsellor, dispensing suave advice to his devoted listeners. John Banks brings out the wry comedy of this – comedy quite unappreciated by the character – with a clever range of gesture and vocal tone.

Jeremy Kingston: The Times

All My Sons:

This is a beautifully crafted piece ...and it affords a wonderful opportunity for John Readman* to do his All-American Boy act as Chris Keller. This most polished and well observed performance as the blighted son of a blighted father must rank as one of his finest accomplishments yet. ( * see Profile)The Stage

The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes

Kudos should also go to John Banks.Lestrade can be a thankless part, but Banks rose to the challenge, playing a pivotal role in this decades long arc.

Raissa Devereux - SciFiPulseThe Judgement of Sherlock HolmesJohn Banks is multi-tasking, both as the superb Lestrade and also the villainous and no doubt moustache twirling Sebastian Moran. They sound completely different and I bow to his talent.Sue Davies - SFcrowsnest

Further reviews and comments are included with specific postings throughout the site.